Michigan Expands Preschool Enrollment To Eligible 4-Year-Olds

LANSING, MI — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday announced a $405 million plan that would fund increase funding for the state's Great Start Readiness Program, expanding preschool to eligible 4-year-olds.

The Great Start Readiness Program, Michigan's state-funded preschool program for 4-year-olds, has not been able to meet demand and only 66 percent of eligible children statewide are served by the program or similar, federally-led programs, Whitmer said.

“We have a unique opportunity right now to make the type of investments in early education and preschool that will pay massive dividends by improving health, educational, and social outcomes for our children decades down the line,” Whitmer said in a news release.

“Parents across our state are aware of the importance of early education and now we have to seize this chance to eliminate waitlists for eligible children," Whitmer's statement continued. "The investments announced today provide access to all eligible children and will help narrow the achievement gap between high-income and low-income students. As we put Michigan back to work, parents can go about their work day knowing that their children are learning in a safe and productive environment.”

The Great Start Readiness Program provides full- or part-day services to children from families at or below 250 percent of the poverty line, which is $66,250 for a family of four. In tandem with the Head Start program, the program currently provides preschool to 43,100 kids across Michigan, officials said. An estimated 65,400 students are eligible for the program.

Investments in GSRP provide both immediate and long-term results, officials said, such as improved literacy performance by 3rd grade, narrowed achievement gaps between low and high-income students, and improved high school graduation rates.

Whitmer’s plan proposes an additional $255 million in federal dollars and $150 million in state dollars, for a total of $405 million for GSRP over the next three years.